Cyclone Phet weakens into depression in Arabian Sea

The tropical cyclone Phet has weakened into a depression and stayed in the Arabian Sea about 500 km northwest of Naliya in Kutch on Sunday, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said.

Owing to the affect of the depression in the Arabian Sea, moderate rainfall was recorded in Kutch and Jundagadh districts in the morning, while there was rain in some parts of Ahmedabad on Saturday evening, they said.

Kutch district collector M. Thennarasan said despite the weakening of the cyclone, the administration is alert and has put in place all precautionary measures to ensure safety of the people.

“We are monitoring the situation at present. Till we are sure that the storm is gone the status will remain as it is,” Mr. Thennarasan said.

Various teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Reserve Police (SRP) will remain in the district for the next couple of days, he added.

According to IMD, the depression would further weaken and move towards east-northeast and cross Pakistan coast.

Following the depression in the Arabian Sea, fairly widespread rainfall was likely to occur over north Gujarat and Rajasthan, it said.

“Squally winds with speed reaching 40-50 kph and going up to 60 kph would occur along and off north Gujarat coast,” IMD officials said.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea as the condition would be rough to very rough along and off north Gujarat coast and adjoining north Arabian Sea, they said.